Inspirational settings - The Hanoi Bike Shop Glasgow

Inspirational settings...

The Hanoi Bike Shop Glasgow...compact, high colourful, hot and aromatic!
What a great sense of community. The seating layout was compact and enabled easy conversation with our neighbours about what they were having...
Hot summer evening in Glasgow - with a visual and edible feast of colours and flavours....

Particularly amuzed by the exterior seating; which also seemed to bear witness to some lively conversation held by the overhead hairdriers...

Infographics and Infogasms - PhD...A worthwhile pursuit into the unknown

So an interesting week seeking advice and direction with regard to further research and the possibility of a PhD; all inspired by the 'Transformative Practice' Conference at DJCAD 6-7 June 2016. http://www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/events/
The Keynote speakers Dr Sunil Manghani (University of Southampton) suggested that we take notes in the form of drawn 'infographics....this is the second time I have heard this phrase. The first being at Pecha Kucha a couple of weeks ago by speaker Reif Larsen
 http://www.reiflarsen.com/Reif_Larsen/%5B%28%28mechanism%29%29%5D.html

(Paraphrasing Larsen) "an INFOGASM  is information in an Infographic format....providing an immediate sense of 'Wow!!!!.I now understand EVERYTHING'....followed by an acute drop off coupled with "Wait...do I actually know ANYTHING?!!!"

Here are my infographic notes upon the breadth and depth to an Arts Phd....I love the image at the top of the jetty facing towards an unknown shore, with the caption "A Worthwhile Pursuit of the Unknown!"

The Benefits of Failure - JK Rowling. Reflective Practice

A came across this short speech by J K Rowling, speaking at the Harvard Commencement in 2011.

Speaking of personal failure as a rock bottom, and that how that rock bottom can be a transformative processs, providing a solid foundation for future growth and opportunity was inspiring.

It taps into the background idea and storyline inspiration for my current work in progress 'THAW'...

Intresting to observe the audience's expressions as they listen. I have noticed when discussing similar themes at the recent conference on 'Transformative Practice' at DJCAD, that the audience often nodded with private identification...

I am intrigued and excited to see where this reflective practice and research path leads.....

Tutoring International Students

I've been given the opportunity to tutor some international students, from Michigan USA, who are studying a short course in the Animation department of DJCAD, for the next four weeks.

First step was a tour around the building with Phillip Vaughan and then delivering their project brief; which is to create an animatic for a 1 - 2 minute animation.

The brief is open, with no guides or restrictions, which will encourage them to define their own ideas and reveal their imagination.

After a good session of brainstorming a natural opportunity for a 'creative break' presented itself. Krish, shown in the foreground below, is currently shooting his final film.

One of our international students, Emily, found herself in the lead girl role! They all got 'live' experience and witnessed, and participated with suggestions, for camera positions, set ups and shot continuity.

I love this image below...it looks so 'American high school'; with the lockers, stripy flooring and a casually dressed student wearing a back pack....

So day 1, has really broken the ice and provided some great bonding experiences with the current Masters students...

Looking forward to seeing their ideas nuggets pitch, this coming Tuesday!

Cat poses and test frames for Elena Lam's film

Playing with cat poses for Elena Lam's 2D animated film this week....great to be using my graphics tablet and photoshop to create some quick ideas and poses...

The image below has been created by Elena, showing her concept designs and cat poses....
I played with adding the texture fur, using Loish brushes in Photoshop

And my test poses and cat drawings below, to keep cohesive and in keeping with Elena's cat designs....
So that the artwork remains consistent

Reflective Practice - Rome's Invisible City

Fantastic BBC programme

Rome's Invisible City. Autodesk's 3D scan software Recap has created exact scans, down to 1mm in accuracy, of the hidden city in Rome.

Amazing fly throughs, with skeletal and transparent trees, cars and urban buildings, hovering above 'ginger root' structures underneath.

Breathtaking imagery and a masterpiece in 3D capture technology...

https://designandmotion.net/reality-capture/romes-invisible-city/

Ice and sunlight; storyboard images

Found this great image on the following blog https://loristillman.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/icicles-and-silence-send-mighty-reminders/

Interesting title 'Icicles and Silence send mighty reminders..

I've played with the image and added some specular glare and sun rays in Photoshop; to form part of my storyboard in my animatic for my final film 'THAW'